Coverage of different health insurance programs and medical costs associated with chronic hepatitis C infection in mainland China: a cross-sectional survey in 20 provinces

摘要

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) imposes a considerable disease burden in China, with at least 10 million people chronically infected. Little is known about the financial impact of the HCV epidemic, nor about the extent to which various forms of insurance are providing HCV patients with financial protection. A cross-sectional multi-site study was conducted to acquire data that will aid policy-makers and other stakeholders in developing effective strategies to address this situation.